I have to share my excitement

[Newbie@boats]

I was just randomly browsing eBay throughout the week and found a 2005 Bayliner 185(I know I know) pictures looked good enough buy it now was $8,000 no reserve. So I put my max bid at $3,000 and ended up winning the boat and almost brand new trailer(2024) for $2500! I thought to myself this seller will cancel the transaction for sure. Well they didn’t I paid and picked it up today. Original owner boat, all original paper work, extended swim platform, a book of maintenance records from the marina, boat runs and preforms flawlessly. 3.0 mercrusier, they paid $3,300 for the trailer 2 years ago. As much as I like my rinker 192 I think I will be keeping this Bayliner. Zero soft spots anywhere, I thought for sure I’d find some. They threw in 3 anchors, rope, life jackets, bumpers, literally everything needed for the water. They were an older couple who retired and bought a pontoon boat instead. The back to back seats were replaced due to kneeling on the driver side seat so it split. They ended up changing both because they didn’t want them mismatched. Minus a vacuum and a wash I’m still shocked at how well this deal worked out.

 

[Stinnett21]

Great find!

 

[alldodge]

What a find, congrats

 

[bajaman123]

Pretty sweet!

 

[tphoyt]

Congratulations
Now go buy a lottery ticket

 

[Davetowz]

Awesome Find! Have fun with it.

 

[bowler]

That's a steal! Good job.

 

[redneck joe]

it does happen and as stated, get that ticket.

how hard was it to keep under control as you were picking up when you began to realize that it was actually happening?

Also - how far down the road did you make it before you pulled i somewhere to walk around a few times?

 

[Scott Danforth]

seriously..... go buy a lottery ticket

 

[alldodge]

Done used up all the luck on getting the boat

 

[IslandExplorer]

Wow, you got yourself a tremendous deal! Nice when things work out sometimes isn't it? She's a gem, previous owners seem to have taken good care of her. Looks like you have a fun boat ready to go! And a practically brand spanking new trailer too? You got seriously hooked up.

Although its tempting to just run with it like it is- I'd pretend I got it for a thousand or two more (which still woulda been a crazy good deal) and put some good preventative maintenance money into her this season. Nice detail cleaning, all oils and grease points, etc., etc.

Have a blast out there a don't forget to share 1st splash pics!

 

[IslandExplorer]

Nothing like that new boat excitement

 

[redneck joe]

yeah good point if no service records or he tol you when, minimum lower unit service.

 

[Stinnett21]

It will need bellows off the bat if there's no history of that being done.

 

[Captain of the Double G's]

Nice find ! Get a full service and never, ever, leave any water in the bilge of a Bayliner and you will be fine .

 

[Newbie@boats]

Thanks everyone, I have everything coming to complete a full service. Boat will be kept in my garage nice and dry and out of the elements. I have service records from every season most of them were just normal, oil changes, outdrive service, impellers. Bellows were done 2 years ago. I’ve been cleaning it throughout the week and moving my stuff into it. I will try to tackle the service this Friday. Hopefully if the weather holds out we will be on the lake this Sunday, it is a little smaller than my rinker 192 but I do think it will work out just fine-either way I will run it the rest of the season and rethink my plan in the spring